Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956
Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956
Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956
PREAMBLE
An Act
To make better provision for removal and prevention of Encroachment on Public Lands.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Bihar in the seventh year of the Republic of
India as follows:--
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification,
appoint in this behalf.
Section 2 - Definitions
In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context:--
(1) "Collector" means the Collector of the district and includes any officer
empowered by the State Government to discharge all or any of the functions
of the Collector under this Act;
(2) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; and
(3) "public land" means any land [1] [managed by or] vested in the Union
of India or the State of Bihar, or in any local authority [2] [or statutory body],
[3] [public undertaking] educational institution recognised by the Government
or by any University established under any law for the time being in force,
Railway Company or Gram Panchayat established under, section 3 of the Bihar
Panchayat Raj Act, 1947 (Bihar Act VII of 1948), and includes any land over
which the public or the community has got a right of user, such as right of
way, burials, cremation, pasturage or irrigation.
[4] [Explanation I.-- For the purpose of this clause and section 9 the
Explanation II.--All notifications under item (ii) paragraph (1) shall be laid
before the Legislature of the State, as soon as may be, after they are issued.]
(a) Why he should not be restrained from making such encroachment by issue of
injunctions; or
(2) Under clause (a) of sub-section (1) the Collector shall have power to issue temporary
injunction at any stage to restrain such encroachment till the disposal of the
proceeding or till further orders or he may pass such orders as he deems proper for
preventing such encroachment:
Provided that where the encroachment on public land is in the nature of exposure of
articles for sale, or opening temporary booth for vending, the Collector may without the
formality of issuing a notice as required under sub-section (1) order for its immediate
removal or cause it to be removed immediately and for the purpose he may use such
force as is necessary in the case:
Provided further that where the encroachment on public land is of such a nature as the
Collector considers its immediate removal essential for the safety of general public or for
the safety of any other structure on the public land and the notice cannot be served
without unnecessary delay upon the person responsible for the encroachment or his
representative owing to his absence or for any other reason, he may order the removal
of encroachment or if necessary cause it to be removed immediately and may use such
force for the purpose as is necessary.
(3) If the person who has made or is responsible for the continuance of the encroachment
is not known or cannot be found, the Collector may cause notice to be affixed in the
neighborhood of the alleged encroachment requiring any person interested in the
same to show cause by the date specified in the notice why the encroachment should
not be removed and it shall not be necessary to name any person in such notice.]
Section 4 - Defence
Any person on whom notice is served under Section 3 or any person interested in the
encroachment may appear before the Collector and raise any defence which he could have
raised if he was a defendant in a properly framed suit for the removal of the encroachment.
Section 5 - Hearing
On the date specified in the notice served under section 3, the matter shall be heard, unless the
hearing is adjourned by the Collector to a future day, and the Collector shall hear the applicant
if any, the person on whom the notice has been served and any other person who may be
interested either in the encroachment or in the removal thereof and take such other evidence as
may be adduced in that behalf:
Provided that, if the person on whom notice has been served under section 3 or any
other person interested in the encroachment, fails to appear and show cause on the date
specified in the notice, or any other date to which the hearing may be adjourned, the
matter shall be heard, ex-parte.
(b) make the temporary injunction issued under sub-clause (a) of subsection (1) of
section 3 absolute against the person making encroachment of the public land,
or
(c) if any person who together with his homestead does not own more than 5
acres of land, has encroachment up to 10 dec. of public land continuous to
his agricultural holding and has used the encroached public land for
agricultural purposes. The Collector shall order the settlement of such public
land with such person on payment of rent and damages for the use of this
land. The amount of damages and rent shall be calculated by considering the
rent payable in case of similar land in the neighborhood. Where no rent is
payable the rent and damages for the encroached public land shall be
calculated on the basis of such fair rent as the Collector may deem proper, or
(d) where the temporary encroachment on public land has been removed by the
person making encroachment after some time the Collector shall order
payment of damages for the use of the land during the period of
encroachment. The amount of damages shall be calculated according to the
prescribed procedure, or
(e) in the cases not covered by the foregoing sub-clauses, the Collector shall
direct the person making encroachment of the public land to remove the
encroachment within specified period which shall not in any case be more
than two weeks in case the encroachment is not removed within the specified
time the crops standing or all types of structures existing on the encroached
land shall be forfeited by the Collector;
Provided if any landless person encroached up to 12 1/2 dec. of public land before
the 10th October 1955, no action shall be taken against him under this Act.
[7] ["(2) If any person does not comply with the orders passed by the Collector under this
section, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to
one year or with fine up to Rs. 20,000/- (twenty thousand) or with both."
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the offence
under this section shall be cognizable.]
Section 11 - Appeals
[11] [(1) From every order passed under sections 6, 7 or 8 an appeal shall lie--
(i) if such an order is passed by any officer other than the Collector of the
district, to the Collector of the district or to any officer specially empowered
by the State Government, by notification in the official Gazette;
(ii) If such order is passed by the Collector of the district, to the Commissioner of
the Division.
(2) An appeal under this section shall be preferred within 30 days of the passing of the
order appealed against;
Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the said period when the appellate
authority is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal
within such period.]
Section 12 - Section 12
[12] [xxxx]
Section 13 - Review
Any order passed under this Act may, after giving the parties reasonable opportunity of being
heard, be reviewed by the officer who made the order, or by his successor-in-office, on account
of any mistake or error in the course of any proceeding under this Act.
Act.
Section 18 - Indemnity
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any officer of the State
Government or any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in
pursuance of this Act.
Section 19 - Section 19
[15] [*****]
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the State
Government may make rules with respect to all or any of the following matters,
namely:
(a) the forms and the manner of service of notices under this Act;
(b) the procedure of hearing and disposal of appeals under this Act;
(3) All rules made under this section shall, as soon as may be after they are made, be
laid, for not less than fourteen days before both houses of the State Legislature and
shall be subject to such modifications as the State Legislature may make during the
session in which they are so laid.
(2) The repeal by this Act of the Bihar Land Encroachment Act, 1950 shall not affect the
previous operation of the said Act and subject thereto anything validly done or any
action validly taken in the exercise of any powers conferred by or under that Act
shall be deemed to have been done or taken in the exercise of the powers conferred
by or under the corresponding provision of this Act as if this Act were in force on the
day on which such thing was done or action taken.
(3) Any proceeding initiated under the repealed Act and pending on the date of the
commencement of the Act shall be continued in accordance with the provisions of this
Act.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of section 3, the Collector shall
have power to examine the records of any proceeding initiated under the repealed
Act which may have been quashed by reason of the invalidity of any of the
provisions of that Act, and if it appears to the Collector that there is sufficient ground
for initiating any proceeding under this Act, the Collector may cause a notice to be
served under section 3 on the person, who was alleged in the proceeding under the
repealed Act to have made, or to have been responsible for the continuance of, any
encroachment, requiring him to reappear and show cause why such encroachment
shall not be removed and thereupon all the provisions of this Act shall apply:
Provided that the evidence taken in the proceeding which were quashed shall form
part of the proceedings under this Act without prejudice to the right of such person
or any person interested either in the encroachment or in the removal thereof, to
adduce further evidence under this Act.
Appendix - APPENDIX I
APPENDIX I
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 20 of the Bihar Public Land
Encroachment Act, 1956 (Bihar Act XV of 1956), the Governor of Bihar is pleased to make the following
rules, the same having been previously published as required by sub-section (1) of that section--
1. The notice of show cause under section 3 shall be in Form I annexed hereto.
2. In case the person who has made or is responsible for the continuance of the
encroachment cannot be traced, the notice shall be served by affixing a copy thereof
at a conspicuous place on the land or in the vicinity of land and the service shall
also be proclaimed by beat of drum. The service of notice in the manner prescribed
in this sub-rule shall be attested by at least two witnesses.
4. The appellate authority shall fix a day for hearing the appeal and a notice thereof
shall be served on the respondent in the manner stated in rule 2 or rule 3 as the
case may be.
If on the day fixed for hearing the appeal or any other day to which the hearing may be adjourned, the
appellant does not appear in person or by agent the appeal shall be dismissed for default.
If on such day, the appellant appears and the respondent does not appear in person or by agent the
appeal shall be heard ex parte.
FORM I
Form of notice under section 3 of the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956
To,
Shri/Shrimati ........... son/wife/daughter of ......... resident of Village .......... Thana No. ............. P.S.
........... District ..............
1. Whereas you have made or are responsible for the continuance of encroachment upon
Plot No. ......... area .......... of Village ......... Thana No. ........... P.S. ............ District
......... which is public land as defined in sub-section (2) of section 2 of Bihar Public
Land Encroachment Act, 1956 (Bihar Act XV of 1956). You are hereby called upon to
appear before me on .......... at ....... and show cause why such encroachment shall
not be removed.
2. Take notice that if you fail to appear at the time and place mentioned above, the
matter will be decided in your absence.
FORM II
Form of notice under sub-section (2) of section 6 of the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956
Whereas an order has been passed under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Bihar
Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956, for removal of encroachment from Plot No. ........... area
......... of Village .............. Thana No. ........... P.S. ................ District ............ which has been found
to be a public land as defined in sub-section (5) of section 2 of the Act; you are hereby called
upon to comply with the order within a period of .........
2. Take notice that in case of disobedience you shall be liable to the penalty provided by section
188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, (XLV of 1860).
Appendix - APPENDIX II
APPENDIX II
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Bihar in the twenty third year of the Republic of
India as follows:
1. Short title.--
This Act may be called the Bihar Public Land Encroachment (Amendment) Act, 1972.
(1) Bihar Public Land Encroachment (Amendment) Ordinance, 1972 (Bihar Ordinance No. 7
of 1972) is hereby repealed.
(2) Subject to the repeal, anything validly done or any action validly taken in the
exercise of any powers conferred by or under the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to
have been done or taken in exercise of the powers conferred by or under this Act, as
if this Act were in force on the day on which such thing was done or action taken.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Bihar in the thirty second year of the Republic
of India as follows:
1. Short title.--
This Act may be called the Bihar Public Land Encroachment (Amendment) Act, 1981.
(1) The Bihar Public Land Encroachment (Amendment) Ordinance, 1981 (Bihar Ordinance
no. 134 of 1981) is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal anything done or any action taken in the exercise of
any power conferred by or under the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been
done or taken in the exercise of the powers conferred by or under this Act, as if this
Act were in force on the day on which such thing or action was done or taken.
Appendix - APPENDIX IV
APPENDIX IV
Appendix - APPENDIX V
APPENDIX V
Subject : Encroachments detected during the special drive on Gair Mazrua Malik and Gair-Mazrua Am
culturable waste lands.
(1) I am directed to say that the question of settlement of Gair-Mazrua-Malik lands has
been dealt with in Revenue Department letter no. 940-LR, dated the 25th February,
1953 reproduced at pages 30-31 of the Land Reforms Compendium and again in
Revenue Department letter no. 1454-LR, dated the 8th March, 1964 at page 51 of the
said Compendium of Government Orders and Circular on Land Reforms and allied
matters (copies enclosed). The question of settlement in the case of Gair-Mazrua Am
Lands has been dealt with in Revenue Department letter no. 4997-LR dated the 23rd
September, 1953 at pages 392-393 of the Compendium on Land Reforms and allied
matters (Copy enclosed). Institution of cases under section 4(h) have been dealt with
in paragraph (b) at page 4 of the Booklet "A" guide to the disposal of cases under
section 4(h) of the Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950 (copy enclosed). Government have
considered all these circulars and have been pleased to amplify for the information of
the District Officers in the following manner:-
the Subdivisional Officer or the Land Reforms Deputy Collector and no inferior
authority should come to any final decision on this point.
(iv) Encroachments on Gair-Mazrua Malik lands which have not been annulled under
section 4(h) of the Bihar Land Reforms Act can be regularized to the extent
mentioned in the previous instructions governing Gair-Mazrua Malik lands.
Settlements can be made with effect from the date of encroachment or from
the date of vesting whichever is later and back rent can also be realised for a
period not exceeding 10 years in addition to reasonable salami before
regularizing such settlement. No salami is realisable from scheduled castes,
scheduled tribes and backward classes.
(v) Encroachments in municipal areas, Notified Area Committee, Union Board and
other Bazar areas for non-agricultural purposes will have to be carefully
enquired into and a special report should be sent through the Sub divisional
Officers to the Collector of the district. Government are separately considering
the question as to what extent the Collectors can be empowered to recognize
the settlement in such cases.
(vi) No settlement should be recognised merely because the area settled is below
15 acres. Each settlement will have to be scrutinized strictly as to whether it
is genuine or not.
(vii) It is no doubt true that settlements on Gair-Mazrua Khas lands have been
made by the ex-intermediaries previously on plain paper but having regard to
the large number of bogus settlements, proper care should be exercised
before accepting any settlement based on Kacha Patta as genuine. If they are
not backed by proper rent receipts granted every year from the date of the
settlement, there should be no hesitation in ignoring such settlements. The
fact that the land remains uncultivated is also another important factor to be
taken into consideration before judging the genuineness of settlement.
(2) The instructions contained in this letter should be treated as amplifying and modifying
the instructions previously issued on the subject. It should be anxiety of the Sub
divisional Officer and the Land Reforms Deputy Collector to ensure the cancellation of
all the bogus settlements with a view to get the lands released for being settled with
landless people.
(3) Ten spare copies are enclosed. The receipt of this letter may kindly be
acknowledged. (Memo. No. A/CL 401/1965-76 LR. dated 6.1.1965)
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